media ARTS
​our WORK
Original Music Video
What kind of project enhances the diverse skills and abilities of a high performing group of eighth grade students? A music video, of course!
Students created original music and lyrics, storyboards, and shot lists. They developed their skills in different areas of production inside specialized departments including visual concept, lighting, sound, talent acquisition, and editing. The final product was 100% student-directed, student-developed, and student-produced.
Although the music video project was enormous in scope, together students were able to do what they viewed as impossible.
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Inspirational Video
The prompt: Make a video to change the world! A lofty goal but one my students took seriously.
Students worked independently or in small groups to produce an original, persuasive video, the goal of which was to make viewers want to take action.
Students gained skills in using video cameras effectively -- cameras were varied and ranged from the students' personal phones, to iPads and Sony video cameras.
Constructing a meaningful tagline was the first order of business. The tagline allowed students to focus their message and create a working storyboard including the camera shots they hoped to get for each part of the video.
Music, pacing, lighting, and narrative helped set the tone. Most students chose music from the site Jamendo , a free streaming and download website. Some, however, composed and recorded their own music.
Effective editing skills were necessary to keep the message tight and under two minutes. Students uploaded their clips to iMovie where they cut, spliced, added voice overs, effects, music, and title/end credits.
*and yes...we are aware of at least one spelling error. We hope that it won't diminish your enjoyment of these videos.
Green Screen Music Video
In February of 2015, Media Arts students received an ASC (Arts and Science Council) grant to work with Sean Driscoll of The Story Ship. Eighth grade students created a music video based on the poem, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. The updated concept for the video was imagined by students. They created a storyboard in which a girl has an opportunity to make 2 choices. Each choice leads to a different future. After the storyboard was created, students made costumes, props and the original music. They researched backgrounds and effects that were edited into the video using green screen technology. Students directed the video, manned the camera, played the instruments, worked the lights, and participated in the voice over and acting work.
Behind the Scenes
With the help of our guest artist, Sean Driscoll of The Story Ship, students filmed all scenes against a green screen. During the editing process, the actors, objects, and props were pulled out of the green background (called "keyed out") and put into a virtual world students imagined from their storyboard. The train station, platform, jail, and alleyway were all environments that students researched on the internet. Once the backgrounds were in place, the filmed scenes were superimposed on top.
To get the actor to appear as if she was descending the stairs onto the train platform, students covered some wooden blocks with the green screen fabric and filmed her stepping down. The clock scene was tricky. A green suited actor was filmed turning the clock hands backward. The student cello player first listened to the music track students created and then constructed a complementing melody. His part was recorded while he listened to the background track on headphones. Then, he played live for the camera.
Our local PBS station, WTVI, heard about the music video and featured the students on their Carolina Impact program in April 2015. A cameraman and news reporter visited our school, filmed the process, and interviewed students about the concept and production.
Students were also invited to tour the WTVI studio, meet local broadcast celebrities, and talk to studio managers about the news broadcasting field. Students were taken through the entire process of news story production and gained valuable insight into developing interview questions, finding new material for stories, and editing material for news segments. One of the highlights of the tour was talking to the sound and camera technicians. Students (and their teacher) had so many questions!
As an introduction to using the iPads and iMovie App, students created iMovie trailers. The trailers led students to use a variety of camera shots and angles including close ups, cowboy shots, reveals, tilts and pans. Students also learned how music and editing affect mood and emotion.
iMovie Trailers
As inspiration for this unit, students studied the works of master animator PEZ. His work, Western Spaghetti allowed students to see everyday objects in a new light. After studying animated works, they then created classic story arcs to include exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
After the story arcs were complete, students created characters made of found objects and clay.
Stop-motion filming was accomplished using an ipad and iMotion App.
Students exported their projects to iMovie where sound effects, music, titles, and credits were added.
Found Object Animation
Claymation
Students created story arcs based on the working title "Family Dynamics." All stories were set in a photographer's studio and the plot revolved around taking a family portrait.
After the story arcs were complete, students created characters made of clay and other found objects.
Stop-motion filming was accomplished using an ipad and iMotion App.
Students exported their projects to iMovie where sound effects, music, titles, and credits were added.
Students created 90 second videos based around the theme "School Spirit" in conjunction with the Cam Newton Foundation's School Spirit challenge video contest.
School Spirit
1:1 Commissioned Video Project
In the fall of 2014, our school applied and won a technology grant that allowed for each student to have access to a Samsung Chromebook. A small team of Media Arts students was asked to create a Chromebook promotional video for parents and students. The initiative, called 1:1, sparked students to write and film an "a day in the life of" video showing the procedures, use, and care of the Chromebooks. The completed video was shared with parents and the entire student body as part of the Chromebook Roll out.